Product Show 2021 – Into the Unknown!

Have you ever seen the movie “Frozen”? There’s a song that Elsa sings called “Into the Unknown” and that’s what it felt like getting ready for the Product Show this year. We had no idea what to expect but I’m here to tell you, this year’s Product Show did not disappoint!

For many of us who work in the pharmaceutical industry here in New England, the Product Show at Gillette Stadium is one of the highlights of our year. After cancellation of the 2020 show due to Covid, we were all looking forward to getting back to “normal” in 2021 by showing up at Gillette in September. Sure, we had to make a few modifications and things looked a little different with masks and wrapped food but the many familiar faces we all know from across the region were here again. What better way to feel like we were getting back to “normal” than hanging out with almost 3,000 of our closest industry friends!

While many vendors were putting the finishing touches on their tables and booths, the show got started in the Cross Pavilion with a chance to honor the Chapter’s 2020 and 2021 volunteer award recipients, including two lifetime achievement award winners Rick Pierro, from Superior Controls, and Steve Kennedy from Kennedy Strategic Consulting. These veteran Chapter members exemplify what it means to support and have an active role in our industry for decades. After that, we had two outstanding keynote speakers, Katherine Eban and Peter Baker, who really hit home on the realities of manufacturing in a global marketplace (don’t miss our free virtual book club event on October 13th where we’ll discuss Katherine Eban’s book, Bottle of Lies).

What else was there to do all day? It may have been a modified show this year but I still wasn’t able to fit everything in that I wanted to see. Especially popular was our Women in Pharma event. It was standing room only as Lynne Frick described her winding path to her current position as co-head of biologics at Resilience. The WIP group continues to grow and motivate each other toward a more diverse workplace in pharma. Speaking of diversity, we had our very first Product Show EDEI networking event this year as well – click here to read the blog coverage on that session. George West led the student development session, “How to Make the Most of Your Product Show”, and the newly formed Veterans In Pharma committee had their kick-off 2.0 event.

The job market is hopping and so was this year’s professional development landing with operating companies, engineering firms and others talking with candidates looking for new work in our industry. I was fortunate to be able to bring my daughter who is a high school senior. I was happy to see companies willing to sit and talk with her about what they do and the kind of people they look for.

The day was topped off with what has become a highlight of the Product Show, the always-awesome After Party. Whether you were there to get a drink with friends, take a photo with the Super Bowl rings or shank a field goal kick into the end zone, this continues to be a huge hit year in and year out. Special congratulations are in order for Jonathan Smearman from Johnson Matthey, who won the Field Goal Kicking contest with a 50-yard kick!

The Chapter will continue to blaze new trails through 2021. As for 2022, we will all find out together, and as for the Product Show, we have some exciting changes coming. Be on the lookout – a new show floor and exhibitor registration are on the way and slated for March/April 2022! In the meantime, please consider volunteering with the Product Show Committee – this is a committee made up of ISPE Boston members from both vendor companies and operating companies, and their work is what makes the Product Show happen each year. Interested? Sign-up today using our Volunteer Sign-Up form – you’ll receive an invitation to our new volunteer social & information session later this Fall!

Special thank you to our Chapter committee volunteers, attendees, exhibitors, and Gillette Stadium staff for helping make this Show possible. Also thank you to all attendees and exhibitors who shared your Product Show photos and tagged us – this year’s photo album would not be possible without your help!